> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.albanyscanner.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Albany Hill eucalyptus trees will come down. What about the monarchs? - URL: https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/08/20/city/albany-hill-eucalyptus-clearing/ - Published: 2026-08-20T00:50:54.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-20T00:52:00.000Z - Description: A new grant-funded plan balances fire safety, butterfly conservation and climate restoration. - Author: Allyson Aleksey - Tags: City, Albany Hill, #articles Dead and dying eucalyptus trees pose a wildfire risk on Albany Hill. They also provide winter shelter for hundreds of western monarch butterflies. The city is now working to remove the hazardous trees while protecting the monarchs’ winter habitat. The delicate balancing act required years of planning and funding from several grants, as well as a partnership with neighboring El Cerrito — and soon Albany will begin cutting down trees and removing eucalyptus debris. Tree removals on city property on the hill will happen "in stages after a thorough assessment and as funding becomes available," Albany spokesman Brennen Brown said. The city has not yet set a start date for the work. Widespread decline of eucalyptus trees has been reported in multiple parts of the [San Francisco Bay Area since 2020](https://www.suddenoakdeath.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/EucalyptusDiebackReportUCBerkeleyv4.08.17.21.pdf?ref=albanyscanner.com), including on Albany Hill, while western monarch populations that shelter in the non-native canopies [continue to straddle historic lows](https://www.kqed.org/science/1999965/western-monarch-butterfly-migration-is-collapsing-scientists-say-you-can-help?ref=albanyscanner.com). [Albany City Council](https://www.albanyscanner.com/topic/albany-city-council/) adopted the [Albany Hill Forest Management and Habitat Restoration Plan](https://www.albanyca.gov/Projects/2024/Albany-Hill-Eucalyptus-Project?ref=albanyscanner.com) in 2025 and authorized staff to apply for wildfire community resilience grants to fund initial work. Removal of decaying eucalyptus trees begins this year thanks to [an $850,000 Coastal Conservancy grant received](https://albanyca.primegov.com/portal/item?id=19704&ref=albanyscanner.com) by Albany and El Cerrito in late 2025. The crucial mitigation work comes four years after Albany Hill suffered a wildfire where a pair of brush fires scorched about three acres, triggering temporary mandatory evacuations in June 2022. Most notably, the 1991 Oakland Hills fire — which killed 25 people and destroyed nearly 3,000 structures — was partly fueled by large numbers of eucalyptus close to houses. Public agencies in the East Bay have identified eucalyptus "as a significant wildfire fuel," with eucalyptus accounting for 70% of the radiant heat released during the 1991 fire, as per the National Park Service, said Ed Fletcher, a [Cal Fire](https://www.fire.ca.gov/?ref=albanyscanner.com) spokesman. Eucalyptus trees have a higher concentration of certain oils compared to some native trees, he added. "These oils have the ability to speed up fire intensity," Fletcher said. "However, just like any other wildfire fuels, they are all affected by local weather, topography and maintenance." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b5/b0/b5b0b7ec-798c-4cb6-ab42-472b59c05589/content/images/2026/08/38500250876_cf59ba8975_k-1.jpg) Monarchs roosting in a Eucalyptus tree at the top of Albany Hill. [**TJ Gehling*](https://flic.kr/p/21E8RfU?ref=albanyscanner.com) But the tree removal work on Albany Hill must consider its vulnerable tenants. The hill’s significant winter population of monarch butterflies is studied by conservation groups across the state, including the [UC Berkeley Essig Museum of Entomology](https://essig.berkeley.edu/?ref=albanyscanner.com), which tallies populations year-over-year, the [California Native Plant Society](https://www.cnps.org/?ref=albanyscanner.com) and the[ Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation](https://www.xerces.org/?ref=albanyscanner.com), as well as local groups like [Friends of Albany Hill](https://friendsofalbanyhill.org/?ref=albanyscanner.com) and Richmond's [Urban Tilth](https://urbantilth.org/?ref=albanyscanner.com). Groups tallied [305 butterflies at Albany Hill in 2024](https://www.xerces.org/press/western-monarch-count-tallies-233394-butterflies?ref=albanyscanner.com). From late November to early December 2025, volunteers counted 221 of them. Population declines have been felt beyond Albany Hill. Since tracking began, "over 60 monarch overwintering sites \[across the state\] have been destroyed," Sarina Jepsen, director of the Xerces Society’s endangered species program, said in a press release. "In \[2025\] alone, at least three active sites have been significantly damaged by extensive, inappropriate tree removal. Without adequate places for monarchs to overwinter, we will lose the migration," she said. The Coastal Conservancy grant obtained by Albany and El Cerrito funds the planting of 24 trees on Albany Hill to improve the habitat for monarch butterflies in winter. Which specific tree species has not yet been announced. The logs from removed eucalyptus trees will be turned into lumber by [Bay Area Redwood](https://www.bayarearedwood.com/?ref=albanyscanner.com). The city will be able to use this wood to build benches, retaining walls, steps, garden boxes and more, and will host milling workshops this fall for residents. "\[Workshop attendees\] will be able to watch some of the milling, learn about urban wood reuse, and take home some lumber after signing a waiver," Albany Natural Areas manager Margot Cunningham said. **Read [ more stories](https://www.albanyscanner.com/archive/) • Learn [about us](https://www.albanyscanner.com/about/) • 👋 Follow us on [social media](https://www.albanyscanner.com/about/#social-media)** *Have questions for Albany Scanner, or want to share story tips?* [*Here's how to reach us*](https://www.albanyscanner.com/tips/)*.* ## Sign up for Albany Scanner Stories for an informed community Get updates Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.